Feeling Better

Today was my first productive day in a while. I finished 2 loads of laundry before I took Eric to his day program. I was on the go until 2 pm, when I finally got time for lunch. I managed an hour of housework before everything stopped for percussion.  We were a bit short handed this evening so I did part of Eric's nightly routine. Not very surprising to me was that I hit my brick wall at 5:45 tonight. I was even to tired to finish the fingerless mittens I had been knitting. 

Tonight Eric was in a laundry making mode. So I started 1 load before bed and I will deal with the rest of it tomorrow. I think it is time to call it a day. 

Meet Judith Knight in Person

My good friend Judith Knight has published a cookbook. For those of you who do not have the pleasure of knowing Judith in person, here is a chance to meet her and sample some of her baking. I always look forward to my monthly Old Pueblo Knitting Guild meetings because I know Judith has baked or cooked up some special treats for us. I would put Judith's skill sets as a baker right up there with an early mentor of mine Frances Kuyper - The Cake Lady. 

Did I mention that you can get a signed cookbook if you ask nicely. This would make a great gift for the baker, college grad or newlywed in your life. So here are the details. Please call the store for the time. 

Judith Knight,

 author of The Knights at the Round Table 

Life’s Funny Moments and Eclectic Recipes to Match!

Saturday, June 27 

11:00am to 3:00pm

For a Book Signing,

 Treat Tasting & Chat at Barnes and Noble Bookstore

Barnes and Noble Foothills Mall 

7325 N La Cholla Blvd., Suite100 

Tucson, AZ 85714 

(520) 742-6402

Judith Knight simplifies home cooking and entertaining with her delectable, easy to prepare recipes. Laced with humorous tales; recipes of all kinds, from appetizers through desserts; and helpful tips—this book is guaranteed to fill your home with love, laughter, and satisfied appetites.

If you are not able to attend the event but want a copy of Judith's book there is a link to Amazon.com on the side of my blog. 

Found Yarn in Progress

Last year I thought I could manage the house, Eric and an on line class called The Journey to the Golden Fleece. I was very wrong. Eric got sick and I just put everything aside.  Yesterday when I was doing some cleaning I found some of the yarn that I had spun on drop spindles and was going to ply.  I spent yesterday and part of today plying what I had already spun and trying to finish spinning and plying the rest of the basket of rovings and batts.  I have some great art yarn that is way out of my comfort zone.  

I know even though I missed the deadline for the class, I need to finish the project for me.  I also need to finish the weaving portion of the class.  So this yarn will help with that.  I still have to wash the yarn too.  Here is a pre washed picture of the yarn. 

Happy Summer Solstice

I just love summer. This summer is no exception. I am keeping way to busy with too many projects going at the same time. Spinning, weaving,sewing and knitting projects are getting finished at a good rate.  I am really enjoying my creative streak. 

We have hit a real cool down in the summer heat.  I think our wonderful days of 110f are gone for a while now.  There might even be rain in the forecast. 

My next deep cleaning project is going to be the kitchen.  It is going to be a real treasure hunt.  Who knows what will land up at Goodwill.  I think I will start off simple and just demagnetized the fridge, I bet I can fill a large Tupperware container with just the magnets on the fridge. 

I think that I will either spin or clean house to unwind right now. 

Lace Weight Yarn

I don't know about you but as a newer knitter I got caught up in the lace weight yarn, anyone can knit lace craze.  After all it looked so pretty. Did I mention how soft the yarn was. How the colors looked so pretty.  All you have to do is yarn overs and knit 2 or 3 stitches together. Just follow the chart, yes I did learn to read charts. So I got something out of the craze.  But and this is a big but, nobody told me it could take hours to knit a row without interruption.  If I did get interrupted I would need to rip out part or all of a row, or worse yet have to go back to the life line. Whom ever came up with lace knitting oh so long ago never had a child with the needs of Eric. 

Fast forward to 2015. I have a solution to all my lace weight yarn that I can not seem to resell.  Hats, yes hats.  I found by accident that if I wind the yarn into cakes and pull yarn from both the inside and outside of the cake and knit with U.S. Size 6 knitting needles.  It is a perfect light weight winter hat for climates such as Tucson.  

Here is the first hat in progress.  

A summer Sunday

The most remarkable thing about today was the 9 loads of laundry that I did.  The last load is waiting for the dryer at 10:15 pm.  This takes into account the 3 loads that were air dried. I guess since I left the laundry room with out any loads to do after my 2 loads yesterday, this was a bit overwhelming even for me.

I did find time to get to the grocery store, but left my list at home.  I think I will have to start putting the list in my phone.  I always take my phone. I still have not found the list, but I hope that I got everything we needed. 

Eric has had a runny nose today along with a low grade temp. I am hoping that he goes to program tomorrow. If not I will still have a busy day. I am hoping for no laundry, but your guess is as good as mine on that. I will also be looking at refrigerators and hope to narrow it down to the one. 

A Milestone

Today at knitting I was able to track down a pattern everyone was sharing from a supposedly out of print magazine.  I did not have the name of the pattern, only the designers name.  I then went to Raverly to find the name of the pattern and to see if I could buy a copy. The pattern was not available for purchase on Raverly, but it gave me the name of the 2012 knitting magazine it was in. 

So off to the publishers web site to find the pattern.  I first check under the free patterns, but no such luck.  So I went under the tab for old magazines. I did not find a hard copy but was able to find a digital copy for $1.75. So I bought a digital copy of the magazine. I got the pattern I wanted plus 19 other patterns for less than the cost of most patterns without denying a designer and a publisher of their money. 

In this age of the digital magazine, I would like to urge all my readers to check with reliable resources when looking for old patterns.  Please use places where you know if a designer chooses to try to earn a living selling patterns, that they have a chance. Not everything in life is free.  They have bills to pay too. 

This was accomplished all from my cell phone. A first for me.  It only took 10 minutes for all the research. Then another 5 to figure out their check out cart. I want to assure my readers that I was not hooked into the malls wifi, so I am hopeful none of my personal information was stored on the mall server. 

When John is available, I will down load the magazine to the computer and possiably the pattern to my I-pad.  By the way I also finished 2 hand knit items today.  It is time to put the last load of laundry I the dryer and head to bed.  

A long night

I am not quite sure what to make of last night.  I spent from 10 to 11 pm helping Eric clear his lungs. Followed by a complete change out, which resulted in a full load of laundry started just after 11 pm. Yes, if I have a full load I will start it any time of the day or night. I got back to Eric's room just in time for a seizure that seemed to last forever,but in reality was only about 2 minutes long. I helped Eric through the seizure aftermath and stayed with him until he feel asleep. 

I was able to get to bed by 12:30am, which turned into a short nap for me. At 3:15 am I was up with a very noisy and uncomfortable Eric. I started out with physical therapy, which helped a little. Then it was time to try to figure out what else was bothering him.  20 questions followed by a meter reading for O2 levels, normal, followed by temperature with a reading of 100.7. I found the problem. Then it was Tylenol followed by holding on to Eric until the Tylenol started to work and he calmed down.  

I got another nap at 6 am and I feel just like Eric and Elmo look, in need of a nap. Then again there are so many things to do today.  I may find time for a nap later, in the mean time it will not be a good idea to get between my caffeine and me.  

Have a great day everyone. 

Birthday Month Freebies

I do love June for the birthday month freebies.  This is what I scored today.  I would have done more shopping, but I find it hard to carry much when I am in a flare up. Yes, it is the post Eric being sick flare up. He was sick for 2 weeks so I should be flared up for at least that long.  But I digress , I got samples from Origians, Clinique, Aveda and Shephora.  So a big thank you to all the companies that made this day possible.  Most of these are based on e-mail, Facebook and frequent buyer clubs. 

I was not paid by the above companies for this blog post. All offers are open to the public when you sign up for the programs.  

Fun Hats

I am getting to the point in the knitting of next winters hats that all I have are a couple bags of bits and pieces of yarn.  I like this kind of knitting because it challenges me. I want every hat to look like something my own kids would wear. They have to have a nice look and texture to the pattern. Most of all the color must flow so the hat looks well planned.  I even throw in bits of Hand spun yarn leftover from other projects. I like to go from this to that. 

Turning The Corner

Eric made it back to his day program today.  This gave me a nice down day.  I had no laundry or other chores that needed to be done. I finished weaving one rag rug and re wrapped the loom.  The good news is that I have enough of the dinosaur sheets to make a second rag rug.  I also finished another hand knit hat.  

I I spent the day fighting that nauseous feeling. Just eating crackers and sipping liquids.  I am hoping that I am just exhausted from Eric being home sick for 2 weeks and that I did not pick up his cold.  I know tomorrow will be a better day.